The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-02-18
THE VETO.

Main Points In the Message of the Presi.
dent vetolng the Dependent Pension
Bill.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 12.-The President yes.
terday returned the Dependent Pension bill
to the House with his veto as follows:
To tie House OF Representatives.:
! herewith return without my approval House
bill No. lOi5,. entitled An act for the relief Of
dependent parents and honorably discharged
soldiers and sailors who are now disabled and
dependent upon their own labor for support. y"
This is the first general bill that has been sane
toned by Congress since the close OF the late
civil war permitting pension to the soldiers and
sailors who served in that war upon the grounds
of service and present disability alone, and in the
entire absence of any injuries received by the
casualties and incidents Of such service. While
by almost constant legislation since the close of
this war there has been compensation awarded
for every possible injury received as a result OF
military service in the Union army. and while a
great number of laws passed for that purpose
have been administered with great liberality,
and have been supplemented by numerous pri-
vate acts TO reach special cases, there has not.
until now. been an avOwed departure from the
principle thus far adhered to respecting Union
soldiers, that the bounty of the Government il
the way Of pensions Is generously bestowed
when granted To those who in its military SER
vice. and in the line Of military duty, have to a
greater or less extent been disabled
The President then revcrts to the Service
Pension acts OF 1878, 1928 and ISL, pension
ing survivors of the Revolutionary war !;
also to to the more recent Mexican war pen
sion Legislation, and continues:
The war of the rebellion terminated nearly
twenty-five years ago: the number Of men fur
nished for its prosecution is stated to be 2,T2,-
us. No corresponding number Of statutes have
ever been passed to cover every kind OF injury
Or disability incurred in the military service OF
any war. Under these statutes 561.516 pensions
have been granted from the year 1861 to June
~, 1885. and more than 26lO pensions have
been added to the soldiers by private acts
passed TO meet cases. many of them Of Ques
tionable merit, which the general laws did not
cover On the 1st day Of July. 1886. 3lj, 1'3 pen
sioncrs OF all classes were upon the pension
rolls. Of whom Cos were survivors OF the war
of the rebellion and their widows and depend
ents For the year ending June 30. 1885,, 49,.
10000 have been appropriated for the payment
Of pensions, and the amount expended for that
purpose from 1861 to July /, 1884, is
ssts, 62i. S11.O. While annually paying out
such vast sum for pensions already
granted. it is now proposed by the bill
under consideration to award Il service pension
to the soldiers Of all the wars in which the
United States has been engaged, including, OF
course, the war OF the rebellion. and to pay
those entitled to the benefits Of the act the sum
Of Sl2 per month. So far as it relates to the
soldiers Of the late civil war, the bounty II az
fords them is given thirteen years earlier than
it has been furnished to the soldiers of any other
war and before large majority OF its tenefici
aries have advanced in age beyond the strength
and vigor Of the prime OF life 1t exacts only
military or naval service Of three months, with
out any requirement OF actual engagement with
an enemy in battle, and without subsection 10
any of the actual dangers OF war.
The President then dwells on the disa-
grecments which he claims must arise on
the definitions of words in the bill, such as
''incapacitated for labor" dependent upon
their own labor for support" etc. He says:
l am Of the opinion that il may fairly be con-
tended that any soldier whose faculties Of mind
or body have become impaired by accident, dis
ease or age. irrespective OF his service in the
army as a cause. and who by his labor only is
left incapable OF earning the fair support he
might have with unimpaired powers have pro
vided for himself and who is not so well en-
dowed with this world goods as to live without
work, may claim to participate in its bounty;
that il is not required that he shall be without
property but only that labor should be neces-
sary to his support in some degree, nor is ii re-
quired that he should he now receiving support
from others.
Believing this 20 be the proper Interpretation
NJ the hill 7 can not but remember that the
soldiers Of the civil war in their nav and bounty
received such COMPENSATION for military
service as has never been received by
soldiers before since mankind first went
70 war. that never before. on behalf OF
any soldiers, have so many and such generous
laws been passed to relieve against the Incl.
dents of war: that statutes have been passed
giving them a Interference in ali public employ.
rents: that the really needy and homeless
Union soldiers OF the rebellion have been to a
large extent provided for at soldiers homes in
stituted and supported by the Government,
where they arc maintained altogether. free from
the degradation which attaches to the usual
sunnorf Of charity. and that never before in the
history of the country has it been proposed to
render Government aid toward the support of
service so recent and where age and circu,n.
stances appearcd so little to demand such aid.
Hitherto such aid has been granted to surviy.
ing soldiers few in number, venerable in age
and as a parting benefaction rendered by o
grateful people. 1 can not believe that the
vast peaceful army of Union soldiers, who. hav.
ING contentedly resumed their places in the or.
dinary ayocations of life cherish as sacred the
memory of patriotic service, or who, having
been disabled by the casualties OF war, Justly
regard the present pension roll, on which appear
the;r namas q. n roll nj honor desirc NJ this
go. 80 :. ,h. 1900, o~;as,o,- ., ho cor
TIME anu In .ne P'esen. eAieo.cS " NC ""
founded with those VINO through sucn OIL as
this are willing to be objects OF simple charity
and to gain place upon the pension roll through
alleged dependence
IN the erecntion NJ this pnonosed Law. unde,
- ,.Ns..ss- - e.,S 20 ;..;, 80
s''iS iil'oi - y. "ouN
D. opened 1or the establishment OF iactS largely
within the knowledge OF the claimants alone.
and there can be no doubt that the race after the
pensions offered by this bill would not only stiu.
nIa,. veaLness and pretended incanacitv m,
~ -, r . ~ Ss.ry
tniak II may oe said tnSt ~ tne close OF tne